The state government last week introduced an overhaul of drug laws whereby people who are caught with small quantities of illicit drugs for personal use could be issued with fines that may be worked off if they sought help.
Redfern Legal Centre senior solicitor Samantha Lee said the data showed that the intervention was being used as a routine practice of police and not as the law intended,and hoped the updated legislation would mean that the need for strip-search was minimised.
“No child should be allowed to strip down naked in front of an adult,even,police or no police,and in the majority of strip-searches they find absolutely nothing. So it’s highly likely that these strip-searches are occurring for no reason and the child has done absolutely nothing wrong,” she said.
“I cannot understand how children in NSW can be strip-searched in 2023. It’s just barbaric,it fails to adhere to any child protection or child safety principles. It’s harmful,invasive and it’s child abuse.”
More than 40 per cent of strip-searches were on young adults aged 18 to 29,however,nothing illegal was found in 58 per cent of cases. Where something was found,75.5 per cent of the time it was illegal drugs,the data showed.
The oldest person to be strip-searched was 72,the data found,and while First Nations people account for three per cent of the NSW population,they were represented in 14 per cent of strip-searches undertaken,with a total of 4591 strip-searches carried out over the two-year period.
Sydney Olympic Park (263 in 2022-23,125 in 2021-22) was the most-searched suburb,whichcorrelates with the number of music festivals held in the area. Last financial year,Sydney CBD (142),Surry Hills (137),Bondi Beach (61),Merrylands (35),Liverpool (34),Haymarket (34),Marrickville (34),Parramatta (30) and Waterloo (30) were also frequently searched.
A report released by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission in September found that less than a third of NSW Police strip-search records over the past two years demonstrated that officers had complied with the rules designed to protect privacy and dignity. At the time NSW Police blamed new training and process forms not being communicated effectively.
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Police Minister Yasmin Catley did not comment when asked if there was a need for a review of the powers,or if the new drug laws meant the intervention should be used less,responding,“If anyone has a complaint about the conduct of NSW Police,it can be made to the commissioner of police or to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.”
A NSW Police spokesperson said:“Officers are trained to deal with the public in a respectful and empathetic manner,and to be aware of potential cultural sensitivities. There are additional safeguards for children (aged 10-18) and vulnerable people with which police must comply.”
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